Pack The House, Think Pink to make Thursday games something special

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A “perfect storm” could be
brewing for basketball fans Thursday night which would rock Eblen
Center. It could mean huge, deafening waves of noise that threaten
to sink mighty Murray State.

And, Tech students can be the big winners in the stands in
addition to the basketball teams on the floor.

“We have many, many things planned for Thursday night, and
everything is being especially geared toward Tech’s
students,” said Misty Pearson, TTU Director of Corporate
Sales. “It should make for a really fun night and two great
basketball games.”

Tech’s attendance numbers have been growing in the past few
weeks, especially the support of students who have been turning out
with high levels of spirit in a quest of cash prizes while
supporting the Golden Eagle teams.

The Golden Eagles have responded with some of their best play of
the season, including a four-game win streak for the men’s
team and a 7-3 home record for the young women’s team.

Murray State, meanwhile, comes to town as the hottest men’s
team in the OVC – one of the hottest in the nation. The
Racers are currently the only 20-game winner in the league and have
won 17 OVC games in a row.

Like the movie that told the tragic tale of several Maine
fishermen, those three ingredients could combine to form a
“perfect storm” of Golden Eagle support to subdue both
Murray State teams when they visit for an OVC doubleheader.

“Our student fans have been sensational the past few
weeks,” said men’s head coach Mike Sutton.
“There’s no question that they have been the
“sixth man” for our team. They have been enthusiastic
and noisy, and they’ve really helped create an atmosphere of
excitement. Seeing and hearing fans get into the game is one of the
best things about college basketball.”

To help add to the excitement, the Athletics Department is hosting
two special events that night. Both are national initiatives by the
Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, and are supported by
the Tech women’s staff and team.

It will be “Pack The House” Night as each
women’s team attempts to break its own school attendance
record. The largest crowd to watch a Tech women’s game is
6,113 (vs. Middle Tennessee in 1990), so it will take a massive
effort from the student body, the Tech community, and the
Cookeville area fans to top that mark.

Women’s basketball first-year head coach Sytia Messer has
also selected the game against Murray State on Thursday to be
Tech’s “Think Pink” Night, an effort to help
increase awareness of breast cancer in order to save lives.

“These are all important games for our team right
now,” Messer said. “The ‘Pack The House’
promotion is important for our team, and we’re looking
forward to a great turnout.

“The other event - ‘Think Pink’ – is so
important because raising awareness for the latest developments in
breast cancer research and treatment, that’s obviously more
important than the game itself,” she said. “The larger
the crowd that night, the greater the number of people who will
have the opportunity to learn something that could save lives.

“Every one of our players and coaches is excited about the
opportunity to play a role in ‘Think Pink’,”
Messer said.

Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game to increase
visibility of the color associated with finding a cure for the
disease. The Golden Eagle players will be wearing pink pregame
warm-ups and pink shoelaces.

Every fan into the arena will receive a gift from Chick-fil-A,
ranging from free food items to stuffed cows. A special promotion
during the game will also allow one TTU student a chance to win
free Chick-fil-A meals for a year.

Another Athletics sponsor, US Cellular will pass out free rally
towels to fans and also have an on-court promotion for a Tech
student.

All promotions throughout the game will be geared toward Tech
students, ranging from the Wendy’s Meal or No Meal to
Pepsi’s Are You A Rock Star.

There will also be the customary cash drop into the stands plus
the popular $250 cash prize for the student group exhibiting the
most spirit. Student groups are asked to bring a sign or banner
identifying them as a group, and to be in the stands no later than
halftime of the women’s game.
At the most recent home games, student groups have made a huge
difference in the atmosphere.

One group of male students has come shirtless and painted up,
making lots of noise in the seating sections just above the Tech
Pep Band. At the Austin Peay game, the students’ many
stomachs spelled out 'Tennessee Tech University: We’re going
to beat the Peay out of you” and at another game, all of them
were painted with a “30” and facial hair in tribute to
senior Frank Davis as he broke a school record.

Other groups have been just as visible and just as loud in
claiming the prize, which is awarded in the final minutes of the
men’s contest.

The Putnam County Health Department will continue to offer free
H1N1 vaccinations at all home games. Each person being vaccinated
will receive a free ticket to the game.

The doors of Eblen Center will be open at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, with
the women’s game scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Both games
will also be taped by WCTE TV with delayed telecast later that
night.

Tech students are admitted free to all regular season home games
with a valid TTU ID. For questions regarding Pack The House Night
or Think Pink, or for ticket information, contact the Athletics
Department at (931) 372-3940.